About the job

Job summary

Building a strong Commercial Function in Government, and with it the right commercial capability, is at the heart of a far-reaching programme of Civil Service reform. We are building a cadre of commercial talent in all Government departments; people who can manage our commercial portfolios, who can lead our most complex and novel programmes and projects, people who have the gravitas and depth of experience to work alongside our policy and operational leaders to develop innovative commercial arrangements, whether through joint ventures, outsourcing or best-in-class contracts. The Government Commercial Organisation is an employer which is truly committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and are able to perform to their potential. We understand the importance of diversity and inclusion and strive for a workplace that reflects the communities which we serve. We especially welcome applications from underrepresented groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with a disability and candidates with gender-diverse identities. Appointments will be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. We have already made significant progress through the establishment of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), our single employer of senior commercial talent across government. This role will sit within the GCO, but based in our DHSC commercial team delivering departmental objectives.

Job description

The role will involves working within a small team on key projects. Typically, we work on multiple projects at once, reflecting the fast-changing environment for PFI. We work flexibly as a team, making sure we have the right skills depending on what each project needs. Commercial specialists in the team are also supported by a PMO team who help with data and other analysis tasks.  In all cases it involves working closely with different government stakeholders – including within DHSC, NHSE, Trusts and with the Infrastructure and Projects Authority as well as the private sector – including equity, debt, the FM market and advisers. An important part of the job is also sharing knowledge and skills with other members of the team to build capability and capacity.

Person specification

• Leading in providing advice to the Department and NHS bodies on technical, commercial, and financial aspects of PPP/PFI transactions. This is expected to cover issues such as statutory and contract compliance, performance and payment, operational efficiencies, contract variations, renegotiation, restructuring, refinancing, early termination, contract expiry and other contract management issues
  
  
• Leading communications and managing relationships with senior officials in the Department, the wider public sector, and in the private sector
  
  
• Supporting Commercial Specialists in the team on specific projects, including developing, interpreting, interrogating, and working closely with a range of complex financial models
  
  
• Representing the Department in commercial discussions, including with equity and debt providers to PFI projects 
  
  
• Autonomy for decision-making at a senior level  
  
  
• Preparing and reviewing business cases and preparing submissions to Ministers. 
  
  
• Supporting the team in looking at common ways to improve ongoing contract management and to addressing thematic issues facing the health and social care PFI portfolio
  
  
• Contributing to the development of PFI training, guidance, standards and other portfolio and contract management tools and products 
  
  
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across departments and the wider public sector
  
  
• Build networks with investors, asset managers, lenders, contractors and advisors

• Maintain current knowledge and understanding of industry best practice standards and market trends. 

Benefits

As a valued employee of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), you will have access to all the benefits the centre has to offer; including flexible working, generous benefits, Career Coaches, Mentors, L&D, a Commercial College, active talent management and, most importantly, access to commercial projects that will far exceed the scale and complexity on offer elsewhere in the UK.

For existing Civil Servants: For full details of the impact on any move across the civil service on your existing terms and conditions, please read the candidate pack. Please note that any move across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to continue to claim childcare vouchers.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.Please be advised that the Virtual ADC is taking place on 1st May 2024 and will require a full day's attendance.

If you are invited to attend a virtual ADC, but for any reason are unable to meet the date outlined then please get in touch with the team at commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible.

The ADC is booked and paid for in advance by departments, therefore it is only in certain circumstances we are able to accommodate alternative dates.

Details of schemes available are attached in the advert. For full details of our process, and a likely timeline, please read the explanation provided in the attached candidate pack. Throughout our selection process, we will make decisions about your capability to do the job, based on evidence you provide against the essential criteria for the role which are detailed in the attached Candidate Pack. Your application will be reviewed by a panel and should you be successful at sift we will invite you to attend a Virtual commercial Assessment and Development Centre (VADC). The panel will review results of the VADC and determine which candidates will go through to a subsequent final panel interview.

IMPORTANT: If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your application within 2 working days please contact: commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.